Science & Technology

Chibeze Ezekiel: A vision for sustainable energy in Africa | TED Countdown

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2022

Africa needs new energy sources to fuel its development, but the continent should invest in renewable energy instead of cheap, polluting alternatives like coal, says climate inclusion activist Chibeze Ezekiel. He tells the story of how he worked with local communities in Ghana to halt the construction of the country’s first coal power plant — and encouraged the government to prioritize investments in renewable energy instead. “Development and clean, breathable air should not be mutually exclusive,” Ezekiel says.

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44 Comments

elsy oly

January 26, 2022 at 4:00 pm

Finally

Reply
saurab shingh

January 26, 2022 at 4:00 pm

1st comment here

Reply
Seyni Traoré

January 26, 2022 at 4:01 pm

First

Reply
Lisa Love Ministry

January 26, 2022 at 4:02 pm

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 👑
John 3:16-18💝

Reply
Frozan

January 26, 2022 at 4:03 pm

5th one should I say then

Reply
vY acc . Friend

January 26, 2022 at 4:06 pm

Nice idea

Reply
Save Money Save the Planet

January 26, 2022 at 4:07 pm

Africa has access to some of the most reliable sunlight. So they could potentially become one of the largest (sustainable) energy suppliers to the world! Yes, transmission is still a problem, but I’m happy to see them making the investments now in anticipation of a better future.

Reply
LordCharles Obioha

January 26, 2022 at 4:09 pm

Wonderful. And also good approach especially involving the local communities and giving the right information to them. Renewable energy wunderbar

Reply
Prem Jc

January 26, 2022 at 4:09 pm

Great thoughts brother…. I will support this idea

Reply
RRIDAFITNESS

January 26, 2022 at 4:37 pm

🔥🧒🏽🧒🏻🧒🏽🧒🏻🔥🍒🍒👍🏽👍

Reply
Royc

January 26, 2022 at 4:39 pm

Great video!!!

Reply
GroMore

January 26, 2022 at 4:40 pm

as you are poor but if you have to determination and courage to save and contribute to mother nature than thats make you a great person not by money but by your big heart…❤🧡💚💛💙

Reply
Master Civil Engineering

January 26, 2022 at 4:43 pm

Learn real engineering from a new dimension here💯💯🇺🇸🇺🇸

Reply
Big Dee

January 26, 2022 at 5:07 pm

How bout some shoes first … pace urself

Reply
- Mark jay
  
  January 26, 2022 at 5:15 pm
  
  How about you stop being a fool?
  
  Reply
- Jonas Mader
  
  January 26, 2022 at 7:53 pm
  
  Your picture of africa seems a little racist and definitely dated
  
  Reply
- Joshua W
  
  January 26, 2022 at 10:10 pm
  
  only way you gonna get first world shoes is with a strong manufacturing sector, which will require energy
  
  Reply
lactobacillusprime

January 26, 2022 at 5:17 pm

Amazing point of view and perseverance. Thanks for sharing this exemplary way of trying to acquire sustainable energy, almost against all odds. Something many can learn from. I am happy the regular people in Ghana didn’t have to suffer the results of this ill fated coal plant idea with economics being it’s main drive with only short term thinking at it’s core.

Reply
Carly Sensenbrenner

January 26, 2022 at 5:30 pm

Great video! You are making positive changes in Africa by encouraging people away from coal plants and focusing on sustainable energy.

Reply
Deepak Arya

January 26, 2022 at 5:34 pm

Great

Reply
FAYZ BAPAKA

January 26, 2022 at 6:34 pm

Я не понимаю но 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 новерника штото хорошие говорит

Reply
Ashea Meine name ist

January 26, 2022 at 6:34 pm

Please move to Africa.

Reply
J.S[기마이]Varaba

January 26, 2022 at 6:56 pm

잘보고 갑니다요~~

Reply
Charles Dickens

January 26, 2022 at 7:02 pm

Sorry Africa, but you already sold yourselves to China. They say “jump”, you say “how high?”

Reply
Mason Goss

January 26, 2022 at 7:24 pm

Inspirational stuff. Well done to Ghana for having the guts to do the right thing rather than take the easy option. Brave decisions will shape the future. Congratulations and I wish we had more of this kind of leadership in the UK.

Reply
Vicki Mac Callum

January 26, 2022 at 8:01 pm

Brilliant 👏🏻 well done! Proud to be African 🇿🇦

Reply
Tonia Makena

January 26, 2022 at 10:28 pm

Wow this is a great initiative I would love to be a part of this!

Reply
Green Coffee

January 27, 2022 at 6:05 am

the best 6 min video and such a clear explanation from him.I loved tthis

Reply
Kevin Wells

January 27, 2022 at 6:11 am

Thank you for sharing. I don’t know what I can do yet, but I promise I will listen, and try.

Reply
Ariel Littaua

January 27, 2022 at 7:53 am

Please invite Destiny Wagner, the new Miss Earth 2021, to talk about her environment advocacy in Belize. Thank you 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Reply
Krishna Manoharan

January 27, 2022 at 8:14 am

Renewable energy is a clean source of energy, but is it available throughout the year/day? What will you do when there’s no sun (nights/rainy days) or no wind (in low wind seasons)? Renewable energy can be an alternate source of energy only when energy storage gains grid parity, which will take time. Until then, conventional sources like coal, nuclear will be needed to provide base load electricity to your people throughout the day/year. Friend, before reading out someone else’s speech; think what your country really needs. It may not be coal, it could be something else. But, renewable energy is still not a complete alternative source of energy, it’s still only a substitute. May be in years to come, we can have our electrical grids powered only by solar and wind.

Reply
Sabrina Liu

January 27, 2022 at 11:02 am

so much corruption thats why these countries are still in deep debt …sigh…

Reply
True Crime Queen TV

January 27, 2022 at 12:12 pm

Love your content!!! It’s amazing ❤️ Be safe everyone!

Reply
Vlog BGM No Copyright Music

January 27, 2022 at 2:20 pm

💙💙💙💙❤️❤️❤️❤️

Reply
Harsh Singh

January 27, 2022 at 3:32 pm

Hey could anybody help to tell the world to do most research on this

Reply
Huy Đỗ Đức

January 27, 2022 at 3:49 pm

What a great video! When environmental problems are increasing by activities of human and that’s not only problem in Africa, but also all around the world. Let’s replace coal plants and other chemical energy plants by clean energy plants like sunlight, use wind, water energy which are very clean and can reusable. I respect him whom in this video for what is he doing to protect environment not only of his country, but also the world.

Reply
Mark K

January 27, 2022 at 4:56 pm

They will soon, THANKS CHINA!!!!!

Reply
Feroce

January 27, 2022 at 9:09 pm

Well done lads. I just hope they can cut ties with the Chinese government next. It’s driving more and more African countries into debt traps and it has to stop.

Reply
obi chinonso

January 27, 2022 at 11:28 pm

Africa’s future energy matrix will be a mix of energy sources(Renewables and Clean fossil fuels). Renewable energy technologies will play a huge role in the continent especially in the area of rural electrification and satisfying residential power demand. We need the clean fossil fuels e.g natural gas with high energy density to industrialize and power heavy duty machinery in the cement and steel making industries. With the right policies and technologies such as Carbon Budget, Carbon Pricing and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage(CCUS), industry players will be incentivised to act responsibly and Greenhouse Gas emissions will be checked and stay within its failure limit.

An optimal energy solution for Africa will be one that acknowledges the unique economic position of the continent in relation to the rest of world. As we make efforts towards energy transition, the trilemma of security, poverty and climate change must be thoroughly considered to ensure energy justice for all especially Africans.

Reply
- Vader _
  
  January 28, 2022 at 1:24 am
  
  Can you explain how fossil fuels can be clean?
  
  Reply
obi chinonso

January 27, 2022 at 11:28 pm

Africa’s future energy matrix will be a mix of energy sources(Renewables and relatively cleaner fossil fuels). Renewable energy technologies will play a huge role in the continent especially in the area of rural electrification and satisfying residential power demand. We need the clean fossil fuels e.g natural gas with high energy density to industrialize and power heavy duty machinery in the cement and steel making industries. With the right policies and technologies such as Carbon Budget, Carbon Pricing and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage(CCUS), industry players will be incentivised to act responsibly and Greenhouse Gas emissions will be checked and stay within its failure limit.

An optimal energy solution for Africa will be one that acknowledges the unique economic position of the continent in relation to the rest of world. As we make efforts towards energy transition, the trilemma of security, poverty and climate change must be thoroughly considered to ensure energy justice for all especially Africans.

Reply
- obi chinonso
  
  January 29, 2022 at 11:25 am
  
  @Vader _ Natural gas is a relatively cleaner fossil fuel with lesser carbon emmissions as compared to Coal and crude oil.
  
  Reply
Daniel Stanislous

January 28, 2022 at 7:24 am

Elon once said the entire United States could be powered with solar panels covering just 100 square miles. Imagine such installations in different countries. This would speed up progress on all fronts.

Reply
Austin Whatshisface

January 31, 2022 at 11:08 am

Just wondering why the only to pics here are: Global, a hipapanic talk, and climate change. Literally thats as far as the spectrum for TED talks these days huh? oh..how to find a good employee. phew, we got it covered

Reply

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